Drug Crimes Case Study
Whether the drug evidence was properly identified and authenticated through chain of custody.
The court reversed the conviction, finding that the prosecution failed to establish a proper chain of custody for the drug evidence. The court held that gaps in the chain of custody — where the evidence was not accounted for during a critical period — created reasonable doubt as to whether the substance tested was the same substance seized from the defendant.
Chain of custody is a critical issue in drug cases. Every person who handled the evidence from seizure to trial must be accounted for, and any gap in the chain creates an opportunity for a defense challenge. D.J. Rivera scrutinizes chain of custody records in every drug case and challenges any gaps or irregularities.
This case involves § 18.2-250 of the Virginia Code. For a full analysis of how this statute applies to your case, consult with D.J. Rivera.
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